70 civilian casualties in Arakan and Paletwa in September from targeted junta attacks

By Admin 02 Oct 2025

DMG Newsroom

2 October 2025, Sittwe

At least 70 civilians were killed or injured in Arakan State and Paletwa Township, Chin State, in September due to junta airstrikes, artillery fire, gunfire, and landmine explosions, according to figures compiled by DMG.

The casualties occurred in Paletwa, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Pauktaw, Thandwe, and Kyaukphyu townships, with 25 killed and 45 injured. Most of the victims were struck by junta airstrikes.

"When they [the junta] lose on the battlefield, they retaliate by targeting civilians. Right now, people must be extremely cautious. It's important to avoid crowds and public gatherings as much as possible, and to carefully follow security warnings to prevent further tragedies," said a civil society worker from Rathedaung Township.

Among the deadliest incidents in September were the airstrike on Thayet Ta Pin Village, Kyauktaw Township, and the late-September attack on Paletwa. Together, the two incidents left nearly 60 people, including many children, dead or injured.

Facing mounting battlefield defeats against the Arakan Army (AA), the junta has increasingly resorted to targeting civilian areas in violation of international humanitarian law, driving up the civilian death toll in recent weeks.

"The military uses bombings to terrorize people, as if to say they can still kill us even if they've lost control of these areas. Their real target is civilians, though they spread propaganda that AA troops are present. We can see they are escalating airstrikes more than ever to make our areas unlivable," said a woman from Kyauktaw.

The junta, which is suffering heavy losses across three Arakan battlefronts, has intensified its deliberate targeting of civilian-populated areas.

On 29 September, the AA issued an emergency warning urging residents to take extra precautions against air, artillery, and naval attacks.